Simple content format for auxiliary display devices

Abstract

Described is a system and method comprising a content format by which client programs running on a main computer system may provide data to various types of auxiliary display devices. The format, which may be XML-based, provides menu pages comprising a list of selectable items, content pages comprising text and images, and dialog pages providing text, images and one or more actionable options. The text and images may be accompanied by requested formatting information, e.g., specifying emphasis, color, alignment, wrapping and/or fit to the screen. An auxiliary device can parse the content to display as much as possible, particularly information recognized (via content tags) as significant, and use the formatting information to the extent of its capabilities. Virtual buttons may be defined for page navigation and/or item selection. Pages of the content format may be cached for operation when the main computer system is offline from the auxiliary display device.

1 . In a computing environment, a method comprising: 
 arranging data according to a format that allows an auxiliary display device to display a representation of the data based on its capabilities, including marking each set of data with information that indicates a type of data, and marking the data with any desired formatting instructions; and    providing the data to a transfer medium for access by the auxiliary display.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, arranging the data as a page, and marking the data with a page type.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein marking the data with the page type comprises marking the data as corresponding to a menu page, and wherein arranging the data further comprises, including at least one selectable item within the menu page, and providing information corresponding to a button for selecting an item.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein marking the data with the page type comprises marking the data as corresponding to a content page, and wherein arranging the data further comprises, including text within the content page.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein arranging the data further comprises, including an image within the content page.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein marking the data with the page type comprises marking the data as corresponding to a dialog page, and wherein arranging the data further comprises, including an actionable option within the content page, and providing information corresponding to a button for selecting the option.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein marking the content comprises placing a markup language tag in the content.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, receiving an event, and navigating to a target page based on the event.  
   
   
       9 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform the method of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       10 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, comprising: 
 an indicator of a page type;    text content corresponding to the page type;    formatting information, the information corresponding to the text content; and    wherein an auxiliary device interprets the data structure and determines a way to present the text based on capabilities of the device.    
   
   
       11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the page type corresponds to at least one type of a set of types, the set comprising, a menu page type, a dialog page type, and a content page type.  
   
   
       12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the formatting information corresponds to at least one request of a set of requests, the set comprising, an emphasis request, a color request, an alignment request, and a wrap request.  
   
   
       13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , further comprising, image data, wherein an auxiliary device interprets the data structure and determines a way to present the image data based on capabilities of the device.  
   
   
       14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the formatting information corresponds to at least one request of a set of requests, the set comprising, an alignment request, and a fit request.  
   
   
       15 . In a computing environment, a system comprising: 
 a program that generates a page of content, the page having text to render and formatting information; and    an auxiliary display device, including means for processing the page and rendering a representation of the page, including formatting the text based on the formatting information, the auxiliary display device further including means for generating events corresponding to navigating to another page.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising another auxiliary display device, the other auxiliary display device including means for processing the page and rendering a representation of the page, in which at least some of the formatting information is not used to format the text.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the page includes a target page and information corresponding to a button, and wherein the auxiliary display device navigates to the target page upon detection of actuation of the button.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the page corresponds to at least one type of a set of types, the set comprising, a menu page type, a dialog page type, and a content page type.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the formatting information corresponds to at least one request of a set of requests related to the text, the set comprising, an emphasis request, a color request, an alignment request, and a wrap request.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the page includes image data, and wherein the formatting information corresponds to at least one request of a set of requests related to the image data, the set comprising, an alignment request, and a fit request.